Coûter Examples, Sentences & Quiz in French

coûter — “to cost” — is one of the verbs you will use every day in French. On this page you will find coûter in real sentences, grouped by meaning and tense, two short dialogues that show it in context, the mistakes learners actually make with it, and a ten-question quiz with explained answers. Start with the examples, say them aloud, and then test yourself. A first sentence to fix the verb in your memory: “Il coûte dix euros au marché.” — “It costs ten euros at the market.”

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for coûter, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one.

Example sentences with coûter

In the present tense

  • “Je coûte dix euros au marché tous les jours.” — “I cost ten euros at the market.”
  • “Tu coûtes dix euros au marché souvent.” — “You cost ten euros at the market.”
  • “Il coûte dix euros au marché chaque matin.” — “It costs ten euros at the market.”
  • “Nous coûtons dix euros au marché le week-end.” — “We cost ten euros at the market.”

In the passé composé

  • “J'ai coûté dix euros au marché hier.” — “I have cost ten euros at the market.”
  • “Tu as coûté dix euros au marché ce matin.” — “You have cost ten euros at the market.”
  • “Il a coûté dix euros au marché la semaine dernière.” — “It has cost ten euros at the market.”

In the imperfect and the future

  • “Je coûtais dix euros au marché quand j’étais jeune.” — “When I was young, I used to cost ten euros at the market.”
  • “Nous coûtions dix euros au marché quand j’étais jeune.” — “We used to cost ten euros at the market.”
  • “Tu coûteras dix euros au marché demain.” — “You will cost ten euros at the market tomorrow.”
  • “Ils coûteront dix euros au marché demain.” — “They will cost ten euros at the market tomorrow.”

In other tenses

  • “Je coûterais dix euros au marché si je pouvais.” — “I would cost ten euros at the market if I could.”
  • “Il faut que je coûte dix euros au marché.” — “It is important that I cost ten euros at the market.”
  • “Coûte dix euros au marché !” — “Cost ten euros at the market!” The same verb in the pluperfect: “J'avais coûté dix euros au marché avant la fête.” — “I had cost ten euros at the market before the party.”

All forms above come from the verified tables. The gerund is en coûtant and the past participle is coûté; the perfect tenses use avoir + coûté, as in ai coûté.

Coûter in context

Dialogue 1: every day

Marie and Paul talk about what they do every day. Notice how coûter changes with the person, and how the passé composé appears when they talk about yesterday.

Marie: “Tu coûtes dix euros au marché tous les jours ?” — “You cost ten euros at the market.” Paul: “Je coûte dix euros au marché tous les jours.” — “I cost ten euros at the market.” Marie: “Tu as coûté dix euros au marché hier ?” — “You have cost ten euros at the market.” Paul: “J'ai coûté dix euros au marché hier.” — “I have cost ten euros at the market.” Marie: “Nous coûterons dix euros au marché demain ?” — “We will cost ten euros at the market tomorrow.” Paul: “Nous coûterons dix euros au marché demain.” — “We will cost ten euros at the market tomorrow.”

Dialogue 2: making plans

Paul and Marie make plans for the weekend. The conditional appears for polite suggestions, and the imperative for a direct request.

Paul: “Je coûterais dix euros au marché si je pouvais.” — “I would cost ten euros at the market if I could.” Marie: “Tu coûtes dix euros au marché souvent ?” — “You cost ten euros at the market.” Paul: “Je coûte dix euros au marché souvent.” — “I cost ten euros at the market.” Marie: “Coûte dix euros au marché !” — “Cost ten euros at the market!” Paul: “Il faut que je coûte dix euros au marché.” — “It is important that I cost ten euros at the market.” Marie: “Nous avons coûté dix euros au marché hier.” — “We have cost ten euros at the market.”

Read both dialogues aloud, changing the person each time: coûte becomes coûtes, coûtes becomes coûte, and so on. That is the fastest way to fix the six present forms — coûte*, coûtes, coûte, coûtons, coûtez, *coûtent — in memory.

Common mistakes with coûter

Mistake 1: Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form

Wrong: “Je coûter dix euros au marché.”

Right: “Je coûte dix euros au marché.”

The infinitive coûter never takes a subject. After je you need the conjugated present form coûte.

Mistake 2: Confusing coûter with dépenser

Wrong: “Je coûte trop d’argent en vacances.” (meant as “dépenser”)

Right: “Je coûte dix euros au marché.”

coûter means “to cost” and dépenser means “to spend (money)”. They appear in similar situations, but they are different actions — check the meaning before you choose the verb.

Mistake 3: Using être for the passé composé

Wrong: “Je suis coûté dix euros au marché.”

Right: “J'ai coûté dix euros au marché.”

With coûter the passé composé is formed with avoir: ai coûté.

Mistake 4: Using the indicative after a subjunctive trigger

Wrong: “Il faut que je coûte dix euros au marché.”

Right: “Il faut que je coûte dix euros au marché.”

After il faut que French needs the subjunctive: coûte, not the indicative coûte.

Mistake 5: Mixing up the persons

Wrong: “Tu coûte dix euros au marché.”

Right: “Tu coûtes dix euros au marché.”

After tu you need coûtes, not the je form coûte.

Quiz: coûter in everyday use

  1. What is the je form of coûter in the Present indicative?

    • A) coûtez
    • B) coûtes
    • C) coûte
    • D) coûtent

  2. What is the ils/elles form of coûter in the Present indicative?

    • A) coûtons
    • B) coûte
    • C) coûtes
    • D) coûtent

  3. What is the tu form of coûter in the Present perfect (passé composé)?

    • A) ai coûté
    • B) avez coûté
    • C) ont coûté
    • D) as coûté

  4. What is the nous form of coûter in the Imperfect?

    • A) coûtiez
    • B) coûtait
    • C) coûtions
    • D) coûtais

  5. What is the il/elle form of coûter in the Future?

    • A) coûteront
    • B) coûteras
    • C) coûtera
    • D) coûterez

  6. What is the je form of coûter in the Conditional?

    • A) coûteriez
    • B) coûteraient
    • C) coûterait
    • D) coûterais

  7. What is the tu form of coûter in the Present subjunctive?

    • A) coûtent
    • B) coûtiez
    • C) coûtions
    • D) coûtes

  8. What is the tu form of coûter in the Imperative (affirmative)?

    • A) aurons coûté
    • B) coûtons
    • C) coûtez
    • D) coûte

  9. What is the past participle of coûter?

    • A) en coûtant
    • B) coûtais
    • C) coûte
    • D) coûté

  10. What does coûter mean in English?

  • A) to have
  • B) to be
  • C) to cost
  • D) to go

Answer key

  1. C) coûte — the je form of coûter in the present indicative is coûte.
  2. D) coûtent — the ils/elles form of coûter in the present indicative is coûtent.
  3. D) as coûté — the tu form of coûter in the present perfect (passé composé) is as coûté.
  4. C) coûtions — the nous form of coûter in the imperfect is coûtions.
  5. C) coûtera — the il/elle form of coûter in the future is coûtera.
  6. D) coûterais — the je form of coûter in the conditional is coûterais.
  7. D) coûtes — the tu form of coûter in the present subjunctive is coûtes.
  8. D) coûte — the tu form of coûter in the imperative (affirmative) is coûte.
  9. D) coûté — the past participle of coûter is coûté; perfect tenses use avoir + coûté.
  10. C) to cost — coûter means “to cost” in English.

Frequently asked questions

What does coûter mean in English?

coûter means “to cost”. You use it in everyday situations like the examples on this page — for example, “Il coûte dix euros au marché.” (“It costs ten euros at the market.”).

Which auxiliary does coûter take in the passé composé?

coûter takes avoir: ai coûté. Because the auxiliary is avoir, the participle normally stays invariable.

What is the hardest form of coûter to remember?

Most learners struggle with keeping the six persons apart — coûte*, coûtes, coûte, coûtons, coûtez, *coûtent. Say them in order every day, and use the dialogues above to practise them in real sentences.

Where can I see the full conjugation of coûter?

On the full conjugation page for coûter, which has every tense, and on the coûter present page, which goes deep on one tense.

Say it yourself

Cover the French sentences above and translate the English back into French. Start with the present tense: “I cost ten euros at the market.” should become “Je coûte dix euros au marché”. Then try the passé composé: “I have cost ten euros at the market.” should become “J'ai coûté dix euros au marché”. Finally, try the future: “I will cost ten euros at the market tomorrow.” should become “Je coûterai dix euros au marché”. If you get a form wrong, check it against the full conjugation page and say the correct form aloud three times before moving on.

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